smilesandsunshine

My hard drive crashed. I have other computers that I can use, but please be patient as I try to get my life back without my trusted laptop.

I like swapping in the summer, but I get too busy during the school year to swap much. I am a full time teacher, and I spend a lot of time doing continuing education classes as well as prepping for class. I'm getting my Master's in Technology in Education.

-- I am collecting used gift cards, fake credit cards, and non-needed plastic shopping cards of all colors to create mosaic picture frames. --

• I'm married to a guy named Dan.

• I have two outside dogs (Rufus and Georgie) and a small gray and white cat named Cloe.

• For some silly reason, I really like cute little owls.

• I like tech gadgets like my laptop, ipod nano, gps, and digital camera. I really want a flip digital camera.

• I spend way too much time on Facebook.

• I like making presents for people.

• I really enjoy directing my community children's choir and leading worship at church once in a while.

• I like fairy tales.

• I don't really have a favorite color, but I do like red, blue, green, yellow, brown, purple. The basic colors. I don't go so much for the colors of the 80s (hot pink, lime green).

I was asked to provide the names of my favorite fairy tales. I really like the Princess bride, Shrek, Cinderella, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast.

I love the idea of being a princess. I am not overwhelmed with it or obsessed by it, but fairy tales make me smile. I love the big dresses and the dream of happily ever after.

Most of the shows I like are crime solving shows.

• NCIS

• Survivor

• CSI, CSI NY, CSI Miami

• Without a Trace

• Cold Case

• Psych

• The Mentalist.

(I don't have time to watch during the week, so I record the shows on the DVR and watch them all on the weekends.)

• I like to watch chic-flicks, so old DVDs would be cool. My collection is pretty small. I have The Notebook, Spiderman, The Matrixes, The Simpson's Movie, Shrek 1 and 2, and The Princess Bride. Oh, and a couple kids movies. We like them even though we don't have kids yet. I've got Charlotte's Web--the newest one, and Jonah, and one of the other Veggie Tales. I want all the classic Disney movies on DVD...Pinochio, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Lion King, and so on.

• Quilting--I haven't done much lately, but I am working on a long term wedding gift for my brother and sister-in-law who were married three summers ago.

• Embroidery--Like those pillowcases that have a pattern printed on them that washes out after you've sewn over it. I'd love these if we are in a higher price range swap. They are $5-$10.

• Doing kids crafts with my students. I need some more ideas for this is you have ideas or pictures of cool things. I'm thinking of a cowboy theme for the end of the year.

• ATCs--I am into these now. I bought some of those clear stamps. They are really fun to use. I also like gluing on little charms or using cute brads or ribbon or sparkly stickers.

• A little bit of scrapbooking here and there.

• Every once in a while I crochet.

This is a list of books I'd like...

Used books are great! Most of my books are used from www.BookMooch.com

• Christine Dabbs Crazy Quilting: Heirloom Quilts: Traditional Motifs and Decorative Stitches

• Kristin Kladstrup The Book of Story Beginnings

• Joanne Larsen Line More Quilts From The Quiltmaker's Gift

• Joanne Larsen Line Quilts From The Quiltmaker's Gift

• Barack Obama Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

• Oliver Sacks Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain

• Patricia Schultz 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

Some people like to send my used children's books that their children have grown out of, and I am totally cool with that. I use them in my classroom. If you are only sending books (within the US), you can send them MEDIA MAIL, which is cheaper than first class. The students I teach are between 7 and 9 years old.

I’d like a woodsy theme for decorating my home, just to make everything rustic and outdoorsy. I really miss trees. We moved here for work and school, and we are so far away from our family and the environment that calms and soothes us. When we went to Yellowstone, we had such a wonderful time. It was so beautiful. I want to bring some of that beauty into my home.

I'd love original art or photographs of trees or of the ocean so I could hang them on my wall.

If you are from Australia, I love Tim Tams.

• 3 1/2 inch x 3 1/2 inch cotton fabric squares in greens, golds, browns, purples, or tans

• Herbal tea, like the kind made from mint, fruit, or flowers (NOT green tea, cinnamon, or chai tea)

• Lodge style home decorations

• Postage stamps unused or used

• Clear rubber stamps

• Dixon TICONDEROGA pencils

• Special stickers for ATCs...like ones that sparkle or are 3-D or super cute or meaningful. Like the kinds in the scrapbooking section.

• Kids things to put in the treasure box at school. Like party favors, hair clips, erasers, matchbox cars, and small books.

• Cute socks but not toe socks...they strangle my toes :)

• Those iced tea mixes you add to bottles of water (I like peach, raspberry, and lemon)

• Starbucks sweetened iced coffee pouches. Starbucks VIA mocha pouches.

• Little things in Spanish, like children's books, flashcards, magnets, or trinkets

• Gift cards to Dollar Tree, JoAnn Fabrics, Starbucks, or Amazon.com. I know, wishful thinking, but you never know what people have hanging around that they'll never use. (Or even gift cards that are used up...I'm making collages out of them.)

• Fabric or quilting patterns that are of NorthWoods or rustic themes. Thing moose, bears, squirrels, and trees.

• Anything artistic made by you.

• Handmade jewelry, like bracelets, earrings, or necklaces.

I'd like some new favorite music, so if you want to make me a mix cd, I'd love getting it.

Right now I'm into bluegrass, like Allison Krauss and Nickel Creek. I also like Christian Rock, folk music, some classical music, and vocal jazz.

I also like sheet music for singing or piano if you have any lying around that you don't want anymore - especially female vocals, duets, or children's choir music.

I hate to say, don't send these things, but please don't waste your money on shipping. I can't use the following items:

DO NOT SEND: - anything cinnamon (allergies) - flavored lotions or soaps (allergies) - chai tea (yuck) - green tea (yuck) - instant coffee (unless it is starbucks iced coffee with the flavoring in it...I'm just learning to drink this)

In 2008, I flaked on a fellow swapper. I didn't mean to; I thought I could take on the challenge of creating 12 dotee dolls in the time allowed, but I didn't get it done. I asked for more time and she gave it to me. But the task was overwhelming and I never her sent her the dolls. I deserve the "1" rating. I know that flaking that one time will exclude me from some swaps. But I explain this in case a swap leader will consider the 222 "5" ratings that I have also earned. Two years ago, I failed at sending a swap, but I will try my best not to repeat that mistake.